Sincerity. One of the defining characteristics of Bali and the Balinese people. Sure, everybody has something to sell and everybody's trying to survive somehow. But I can say with conviction that Balinese people are generally sincere. Maybe I'm naive to think as such, but I tend to see the good in people. Sincerity is a trait that you can experience everywhere you go in Bali.
I had an epiphany when thinking about Bali, its tourism, and the way it markets itself. I came up with the slogan "Sincerely Bali" because I think it embodies what Bali and the Balinese people are all about. The idea certainly needs redefining, but I wanted to document it here first.
I think Bali is also sincere in a way that it doesn't try to hide its flaws to visitors. As visitors enter Bali, they get to experience first hand the good, the bad, and the ugly of Bali and its growing pains. We don't hide the fact that we're still developing and that our infrastructure needs attention. We don't hide the fact that our growth is so organic that it lacks
certain benefits of carefully planned and forward-looking economies. There's some degree of sugar-coating, but for the most part Bali is what you sense and experience for yourself.
At the end of the day, Bali i truly what it presents itself to be. And we shouldn't try to present it otherwise when marketing to potential visitors and investors. As I look around other slogans like "Wonderful Indonesia" or "Remarkable India", I think Bali needs a buzzword that embodies the spirit of the island and its people. I would suggest "Sincerely Bali."
Wednesday, June 6, 2012
Monday, June 4, 2012
Why I Don't Frequent Starbucks
It's been five years since I last visited home. Back in 2007, we still had Krispy Kreme and Wisata 21. Now, I've seen the proliferation of so many chain restaurants and retail outlets, including Starbucks, J.Co, McD, etc., etc. That definitely signifies progress, and I believe they've been exceptionally successful because Indonesians love to experience new things. It also helps that we have domestic demand that is stronger than ever, coupled with the desire and ability to spend.
There's one big problem (at least from my limited pocket's point of view) with these "nice" eateries and cafes: they're expensive. I mean, they are not prohibitively expensive, but they are substantially pricey enough to make you think about the purchase. Perhaps once or twice is fine, especially when you need a place to hang out and reconnect with old friends. So, you'd spend IDR 35,000 or 4 bucks on a cup of coffee. It's expensive, but it's not THAT bad. I think the trouble comes from making a habit out of it.
I agree with Dan Ariely. In Predictably Irrational, Ariely (an economist) talks about lagged demand and the justification of spending over $4 for a cup of coffee. It goes something like this: The first time you stand in line (that's American for queue by the way), you wanted to try it out to see what it's all about. You're thinking, sure I can splurge a little bit. The next time around, let's say the next week, you are standing in line behind last week you. You're now thinking that since you already justified spending the $4 last time, you're justifying your current demand based on your last experience. Pretty soon, you may not even think about the price as you find "your coffee". Eventually, your demand for expensive Starbucks coffee comes not only from your desire for coffee at each particular point of time, but also from the previous demands that you justified.
The thing is, we are a creature of habit. Once you justify spending that much for coffee, you would tend to accept it as your new norm (i.e., that a $4 cup of coffee is perfectly acceptable). You become a coffee aficionado, which is awesome, but when you think in bigger picture $4 can get you a full meal (or two) in Bali.
So, my two cents is that you should think of the big picture. Over time, how much money would you be spending at Starbucks? Then, what's the opportunity cost. Let's say you go often enough to where you spend $50 a month, think of what can you use that money for. You could, for instance, use that money to pay your health insurance premium.
But I digress. The bottom line is that I don't frequent expensive places like Starbucks because I don't want to justify spending that much for something that's not absolutely necessary or incredibly remarkable. Plus, I don't want to make a habit out of it. I'd go once and a while, but not often enough. I think you frequent a place often enough when you don't even think twice about the price. So, if you want to save money and you find yourself not thinking twice about the price you pay for coffee, perhaps you should slow down and start trying cheaper coffee instead. You liked it once, you might like it again.
There's one big problem (at least from my limited pocket's point of view) with these "nice" eateries and cafes: they're expensive. I mean, they are not prohibitively expensive, but they are substantially pricey enough to make you think about the purchase. Perhaps once or twice is fine, especially when you need a place to hang out and reconnect with old friends. So, you'd spend IDR 35,000 or 4 bucks on a cup of coffee. It's expensive, but it's not THAT bad. I think the trouble comes from making a habit out of it.
I agree with Dan Ariely. In Predictably Irrational, Ariely (an economist) talks about lagged demand and the justification of spending over $4 for a cup of coffee. It goes something like this: The first time you stand in line (that's American for queue by the way), you wanted to try it out to see what it's all about. You're thinking, sure I can splurge a little bit. The next time around, let's say the next week, you are standing in line behind last week you. You're now thinking that since you already justified spending the $4 last time, you're justifying your current demand based on your last experience. Pretty soon, you may not even think about the price as you find "your coffee". Eventually, your demand for expensive Starbucks coffee comes not only from your desire for coffee at each particular point of time, but also from the previous demands that you justified.
The thing is, we are a creature of habit. Once you justify spending that much for coffee, you would tend to accept it as your new norm (i.e., that a $4 cup of coffee is perfectly acceptable). You become a coffee aficionado, which is awesome, but when you think in bigger picture $4 can get you a full meal (or two) in Bali.
So, my two cents is that you should think of the big picture. Over time, how much money would you be spending at Starbucks? Then, what's the opportunity cost. Let's say you go often enough to where you spend $50 a month, think of what can you use that money for. You could, for instance, use that money to pay your health insurance premium.
But I digress. The bottom line is that I don't frequent expensive places like Starbucks because I don't want to justify spending that much for something that's not absolutely necessary or incredibly remarkable. Plus, I don't want to make a habit out of it. I'd go once and a while, but not often enough. I think you frequent a place often enough when you don't even think twice about the price. So, if you want to save money and you find yourself not thinking twice about the price you pay for coffee, perhaps you should slow down and start trying cheaper coffee instead. You liked it once, you might like it again.
Sunday, June 3, 2012
Home Sweet Home
Bali. Home sweet home. I've been away for nine and a half years. It' been too long. I've only been home a couple of times since I left the humidity of Bali in January 2003 for the icy cold Missouri winter back then. Many winters later, I decided to come home to start my career here and, perhaps more importantly, to be with my family.
I've always told my friends that I was born and raised in Bali, but I discovered myself in America. During my time there I attained some fancy degrees, which really do not mean a whole lot if I can't apply it to good use. While in the US, I discovered my true calling and became a lot more comfortable in my own skin. Now, as I return to rediscover my home island, I am ready to say that I progress in Bali.
Ah, that word: progress. As I look around me, I see Bali progressing. New buildings erected, new shops open, new jobs made available. Progress is good. My goal is to in my re-discovery of Bali is to document said progress, share it, critique it, and perhaps offer something that would contribute to (and not take away from) such progress and development.
Home sweet home. Definitely true. It feels sweet to be back. I hope to contribute something of value, if nothing else through my words and ideas. I look forward to my discovery, and look forward to sharing it as well.
Dalung, 4 June 2012.
Chris Susanto.
I've always told my friends that I was born and raised in Bali, but I discovered myself in America. During my time there I attained some fancy degrees, which really do not mean a whole lot if I can't apply it to good use. While in the US, I discovered my true calling and became a lot more comfortable in my own skin. Now, as I return to rediscover my home island, I am ready to say that I progress in Bali.
Ah, that word: progress. As I look around me, I see Bali progressing. New buildings erected, new shops open, new jobs made available. Progress is good. My goal is to in my re-discovery of Bali is to document said progress, share it, critique it, and perhaps offer something that would contribute to (and not take away from) such progress and development.
Home sweet home. Definitely true. It feels sweet to be back. I hope to contribute something of value, if nothing else through my words and ideas. I look forward to my discovery, and look forward to sharing it as well.
Dalung, 4 June 2012.
Chris Susanto.
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